Late last month, Caleb Scofield — bassist for both Cave In and Old Man Gloom — was tragically killed in a car crash. And while tributes poured in from both fans and peers alike, Old Man Gloom — the supergroup that also features Isis frontman Aaron Turner, Converge's Nate Newton and drummer Santos Montano — have now issued a statement regarding their fallen band member, as well as the group's future without him.
The message comes via a heartfelt post penned by Montano, who wrote, "This has been the toughest week that many of us have ever had to live through."
That said, the message comes with a lot of positivity in the wake of the tragedy, which saw Scofield lose his life at just 39 and leave behind a wife and two young children. As previously reported, a crowdfunding campaign was quickly set up for his surviving relatives, and as Montano wrote, the response was overwhelming.
"I watched the fund climb and climb and climb, even today, almost entirely from people who didn't know Caleb, but truly loved him and felt they wanted to repay that love by supporting his family," Montano wrote. "That's incredible. I am taking genuine comfort from how beautiful our community is. I've said it many times, and will continue to say it, thank you to everyone, you all have acted with love, dignity, and respect during this time. I'm so grateful."
As for the future of Old Man Gloom following the loss of Scofield, Montano explained that the project will continue, with the aim now being to honour Scofield the best they can.
Montano described making the decision with Aaron Turner like this:
In a quiet moment, in a very loud room filled with more people than I could count, Aaron and I were sitting across from one another, totally drained, zombiefied, just looking at each other. He leaned towards me, and I leaned towards him. He quietly said "Santos, do you still want to do Old Man Gloom?
My stomach dropped, and I responded "we have to now. We don't have a choice." We spoke to Nate and he agreed. I don't know what it means, or how it will manifest itself, but we will continue and do our best to honor Caleb, and that means we must exist. I share this very private moment because I truly feel after this week you are all a part of our story so much more than I ever realized. Thank you for showing us that. We love you all.
As previously reported, Scofield was killed in car crash on March 28 in New Hampshire, where he hit a toll booth on the Everett Turnpike.
You can read Montano's full message below.
It's been beautiful, heart warming, heart wrenching, horrible, and uplifting to see the outpouring of love coming in from all over the planet.
This has been the toughest week that many of us have ever had to live through, and without the support of all the other people who are feeling the void left by our friend, we would have been truly lost. I was held up, physically and emotionally by someone I hadn't seen in 15 years during the memorial. I gave hugs to people I hadn't seen in decades, and felt true love in every single one without having to share a single word, and a few times, I didn't, I just walked away, and it was understood that speaking wasn't necessary. I've read sweet sincere words from a hundred and fifty strangers, and only one or two dudes being assholes. I watched the fund climb and climb and climb, even today, almost entirely from people who didn't know Caleb, but truly loved him and felt they wanted to repay that love by supporting his family.
That's incredible.
I am taking genuine comfort from how beautiful our community is. I've said it many times, and will continue to say it, thank you to everyone, you all have acted with love, dignity, and respect during this time. I'm so grateful.
One last thing.
In a quiet moment, in a very loud room filled with more people than I could count, Aaron and I were sitting across from one another, totally drained, zombiefied, just looking at each other. He leaned towards me, and I leaned towards him. He quietly said "Santos, do you still want to do Old Man Gloom?"
My stomach dropped, and I responded "we have to now. We don't have a choice." We spoke to Nate and he agreed. I don't know what it means, or how it will manifest itself, but we will continue and do our best to honor Caleb, and that means we must exist. I share this very private moment because I truly feel after this week you are all a part of our story so much more than I ever realized. Thank you for showing us that. We love you all.
I promise I'll get back to being a shithead soon. I don't know when, but eventually. Things are just different now. They'll be different forever. That being said, I'm a shithead at my core, so you know, it'll start creeping out soon enough.
-Santos
The message comes via a heartfelt post penned by Montano, who wrote, "This has been the toughest week that many of us have ever had to live through."
That said, the message comes with a lot of positivity in the wake of the tragedy, which saw Scofield lose his life at just 39 and leave behind a wife and two young children. As previously reported, a crowdfunding campaign was quickly set up for his surviving relatives, and as Montano wrote, the response was overwhelming.
"I watched the fund climb and climb and climb, even today, almost entirely from people who didn't know Caleb, but truly loved him and felt they wanted to repay that love by supporting his family," Montano wrote. "That's incredible. I am taking genuine comfort from how beautiful our community is. I've said it many times, and will continue to say it, thank you to everyone, you all have acted with love, dignity, and respect during this time. I'm so grateful."
As for the future of Old Man Gloom following the loss of Scofield, Montano explained that the project will continue, with the aim now being to honour Scofield the best they can.
Montano described making the decision with Aaron Turner like this:
In a quiet moment, in a very loud room filled with more people than I could count, Aaron and I were sitting across from one another, totally drained, zombiefied, just looking at each other. He leaned towards me, and I leaned towards him. He quietly said "Santos, do you still want to do Old Man Gloom?
My stomach dropped, and I responded "we have to now. We don't have a choice." We spoke to Nate and he agreed. I don't know what it means, or how it will manifest itself, but we will continue and do our best to honor Caleb, and that means we must exist. I share this very private moment because I truly feel after this week you are all a part of our story so much more than I ever realized. Thank you for showing us that. We love you all.
As previously reported, Scofield was killed in car crash on March 28 in New Hampshire, where he hit a toll booth on the Everett Turnpike.
You can read Montano's full message below.
It's been beautiful, heart warming, heart wrenching, horrible, and uplifting to see the outpouring of love coming in from all over the planet.
This has been the toughest week that many of us have ever had to live through, and without the support of all the other people who are feeling the void left by our friend, we would have been truly lost. I was held up, physically and emotionally by someone I hadn't seen in 15 years during the memorial. I gave hugs to people I hadn't seen in decades, and felt true love in every single one without having to share a single word, and a few times, I didn't, I just walked away, and it was understood that speaking wasn't necessary. I've read sweet sincere words from a hundred and fifty strangers, and only one or two dudes being assholes. I watched the fund climb and climb and climb, even today, almost entirely from people who didn't know Caleb, but truly loved him and felt they wanted to repay that love by supporting his family.
That's incredible.
I am taking genuine comfort from how beautiful our community is. I've said it many times, and will continue to say it, thank you to everyone, you all have acted with love, dignity, and respect during this time. I'm so grateful.
One last thing.
In a quiet moment, in a very loud room filled with more people than I could count, Aaron and I were sitting across from one another, totally drained, zombiefied, just looking at each other. He leaned towards me, and I leaned towards him. He quietly said "Santos, do you still want to do Old Man Gloom?"
My stomach dropped, and I responded "we have to now. We don't have a choice." We spoke to Nate and he agreed. I don't know what it means, or how it will manifest itself, but we will continue and do our best to honor Caleb, and that means we must exist. I share this very private moment because I truly feel after this week you are all a part of our story so much more than I ever realized. Thank you for showing us that. We love you all.
I promise I'll get back to being a shithead soon. I don't know when, but eventually. Things are just different now. They'll be different forever. That being said, I'm a shithead at my core, so you know, it'll start creeping out soon enough.
-Santos
